I've had several requests to explain more
about the internal electronics I've used inside my B9. I'll try to add
additional information on this page. As I create each schematic, I'll
add them here. I am drawing the schematics up "after-the-fact"
as I was making this all up as I went along, and everything was hand drawn.
11/30/04 - Here's the
Infrared Interface Board schematic. I believe it's complete.
This board takes the signal from the IR Remote Control (via the IR Repeater
board) and decodes it into 14 different I/O lines.
The file is in a
PDF format. You have to click on image to see the whole schematic.
More info on the entire Remote control system Interface is on my
Remote Control page.
11/29/04 - Here is the entire soil sampler circuit. It shows the up
and down switches as well as the interface to the H-Bridge which controls
the shaft extend motor. The file is in a PDF format. You have to
click on image to see the whole schematic. If anyone is interested in
the Basic Stamp code, I code share that as well.
Oopic II Micro controller -
12/21/03 - Basic Stamp
Microcontroller - This is what I am using to control my soil sampler.
It is programmable in BASIC language and has 8 I/O ports. Very capable
for controlling a single process like my sol sampler. It has limited
capabilities when it comes to PWM, but it manages to do the job.
Dual PWM Driver for OOPic™ by Magnevation
12/21/03 - This is the Infrared
Interface chip I'm using. I purchased it from Reynolds Electronics.
They have a great "Remote
Control Store" with all kinds of IR interface components.
The
chip gives me 14 separate remotely controllable addresses. I can use
the remote control to turn on and off each one independently.
I will have control over 14 different features on my robot. Already, I
have 4 addresses taken up by the Chest Light controller and 1 used to active
the Soil Sampler. Others will include the Torso movement routines and
maybe the brain and radar movement.
12/28/03 - The
circuit board shown here is my IR repeater board. I have two
internal items that need to be controlled by remotes. The car stereo I am
using for my voice/internal sound effects as well as my IR interface
board. I need to be able to control both of these from
outside. In order to have the IR signals penetrate the torso, I need
to have a remote IR detector and a corresponding internal IR
repeater. The board should do the trick. It is
sold by Ramsey Electronics
a very neat local manufacturer of Hobby electronics kits. I also use
one of these
IR
repeaters to control my audio and video equipment in my living
room. I can have the doors closed on the armoire entertainment
center and still control the equipment inside.
12/30/03 - Microphone
preamp. I want to have the ability to hook up a microphone so that I can
"speak" through the robot. I'll need this microphone preamp in line
with the microphone to boost the signal up to a useable level that I can
then feed into the audio amplifier. I hope this will come in useful on
Halloween, when I can talk to the kiddies. The kit is from
Canakit and it is nice and clean
looking and simple. A great deal for under $10.
Bulb-O-Rama! - I am using several types of
bulbs in the B9. I figured that I had better make a chart and keep
some spares on hand
Where Used
Voltage
Base
Bulb type
Qty
Notes
Brain lights
12 V
Screw Base
#258
25
Flashing
Finger lights
12 V
Screw Base
#258
7
Flashing
Large Chest lights
6.3 V
Bayonet Base
#47
2
Chest Buttons (Teeth Lights )
5 V
Screw Base
2
Small belly lights
6.3 V
Bayonet Base
#47
12
Programming Bay light
6.3V
Bayonet Base
#47
1
Torso Rotation Sensors - For
more info on how I configured the robot for rotation. Check out my
Torso Rotation Sensors page.
Excellent book for the beginner robot builder available
at Amazon. Clicking on the book will take you to the Amazon web site
description of the book..
